Chapter 16: Asha
>>Aelin
Tears spilled from my eyes before I even realized I was crying. The sound that left me was raw, a mixture of grief and longing, the ache of losing something I had never even had the chance to hold.
"Asha," I stood up, my eyes watching her as I saw the long locks of her hair swayed. She didn’t have distinct body colors but I knew her hair must be the same as mine. I stumbled my way her, only to crumble onto my knees once I was near her again.
My entire body was shaking as I looked at her. "I’m so sorry," I choked out, my voice breaking. "I’m so, so sorry. I should’ve protected you. I should’ve... I should’ve been there."
The silhouette tilted her head slightly, and I could almost feel her smile, though her face was blurred by the light. "Mommy, it’s okay," Her tiny hands came to touch my tear stained cheeks, "I still love you," Her figure looked about to be five years old or so.
"Asha," My pupils shook as I looked at her and as I kept staring, it was almost like I could see her features.
"I love the name you gave me, mommy," She seemed to be grinning
My heart skipped a beat at her confession,"This is how I wanted you to be," I cracked a broken smile, "To live well, to be hopeful-" I gulped as I reached out for her cheek, "To be happy..." I whispered as my eyes stung with hot unshed tears.
I didn’t want to cry though, I didn’t want to blur my vision and not be able to look at her. But I was breaking inside. I placed my other hand on her other cheek but my head dropped in defeat, "I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you,"